“Juventus Football Club can this evening confirm that Medhi Benatia has joined the club on a season-long loan deal from Bayern Munich for a fee of €3 million, to be paid at the international transfer release,” read a statement.

“The agreement also provides Juventus with the option to purchase the defender on a permanent basis for a price of €17 million, to be paid over two financial years. This option must be exercised before 30 May 2017.”

Crucially, this is an option and is therefore not mandatory.

The 29-year-old spent four seasons in Serie A with Udinese and Roma, before leaving the Giallorossi to join Bayern in 2014.

Injuries limited his impact in Bavaria, however, and Benatia made just 11 Bundesliga starts last season.

"He expressed a desire to return to Italy. We wish him well," said Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.